Abstract: A ball bat includes a barrel in which one or more stiffening elements or damping elements, or both, are located. The stiffening or damping elements may be positioned at a variety of locations, and may have a variety of configurations, for selectively reducing the barrel's performance without appreciably increasing the bat's moment of inertia.

Abstract: A ball bat includes a transparent or translucent cap attached to a bat barrel. One or more security labels are bonded or otherwise attached to the cap and the barrel such that removal of the cap damages or destroys the one or more security labels, providing an indication that the cap has been removed and that tampering with the interior of the bat may have occurred.

Abstract: A hybrid material bat comprises an elongate shaft, a reinforcing member, a barrel body and a grip body. The shaft is made of rigid materials and includes a front portion, an intermediate portion and a rear portion. The barrel body is made of materials with good striking performance and includes a striking section for striking, impacting, or hitting and a mid-section. The grip body is made of resilient materials with good shock absorbing property, and has a front end and a terminal end. The reinforcing member is made of rigid materials and disposed on a distal end of said front portion of said shaft. The barrel body intimately surrounds the front portion of the shaft and the reinforcing member. The grip body intimately surrounds the rear portion of the shaft.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a ball bat with improved shock and vibration dampening. More particularly, the present invention relates to a ball bat with a handle, a barrel, and a socket assembly interposed between the handle and barrel. The socket assembly allows the barrel and handle to move relative to each other, which dampens shock and vibration.

Abstract: A softball or baseball bat with modified restitution characteristic is provided. The bat can comprise a substantially rigid core coupled with a single or multi-piece sleeve. The core can comprise a tip end, a barrel taper, a handle taper, and a handle. The sleeve can slide over the handle portion and can be pressed, molded, or adhered to the barrel taper. The resilient sleeve can be sized and shaped such that the sleeve portion is substantially the same diameter as the tip end. The sleeve can comprise a material capable of impact absorption. The sleeve can have a composite structure with inner and outer sleeve components. The sleeve can further comprise a cone to taper the sleeve in the handle taper portion of the bat. The material and thickness of the sleeve and the core can be varied to meet applicable restitution requirements.

Abstract: A ball bat includes a barrel having one or more integral features for selectively stiffening regions of the barrel. The barrel may include an indented region forming a rib projecting inwardly into the barrel. Alternatively, one or more inwardly projecting lips may be formed on adjoining barrel sections that are bonded, welded, or otherwise attached to each other, such that an integral, internal rib is formed in the barrel. The internal rib stiffens the barrel, thus reducing the barrel's BBCOR. One or more integral ribs may be provided at any desired barrel locations for selectively limiting the barrel's performance without appreciably increasing the moment of inertia of the ball bat. In another embodiment, a joint, to which two barrel sections are bonded, welded, or otherwise attached, includes an inwardly projecting member that stiffens the barrel, thus reducing the barrel's BBCOR.

Abstract: An improvement is made effectively in the strength of a baseball or softball bat constructed by joining a ball-hitting member and a grip member formed of a Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic (FRP) material and a metal material, respectively. In the baseball or softball bat constructed by joining a metal ball-hitting member and an FRP grip member, a joining end region of the grip member has an adhering piece bonded to one of an inner peripheral surface and an outer peripheral surface of a joined end region of the ball-hitting member, and a contact piece for contacting the other of the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface of the joined end region of the ball-hitting member when the adhering piece is in a bonded state.

Abstract: Baseball bats described herein may have handle, throat and/or barrel portions that include non-circular cross-sections.

Abstract: A ball bat extending about a longitudinal axis. A bat includes a tubular bat frame. The bat frame includes first and second frame pieces. The first frame piece has a gripping portion integrally formed to a transition portion, and the transition portion has a distal end region. The second frame piece has a proximal end region. The distal end region of the first piece is coupled to the proximal end region of the second piece. One of the distal and proximal end regions overlaps the other of the distal and proximal end regions. The bat has a center of percussion, and the mid-length of the overlap of the distal and proximal end regions is positioned within plus or minus three inches of the center of percussion of the bat.

Abstract: A non-wood baseball or softball bat wherein the barrel portion of the bat is filled with an inner foam layer which has a relatively low compressibility surrounded by an outer foam layer having high compressibility. This configuration would not hinder the hitting performance of less skilled players in an effort to control the maximum rebound speed generated by the best players.

Abstract: A non-wood baseball or softball bat wherein the barrel portion of the bat is filled with an inner foam layer which has a relatively low compressibility surrounded by an outer foam layer having high compressibility. This configuration would not hinder the hitting performance of less skilled players in an effort to control the maximum rebound speed generated by the best players.

Abstract: Ball bats comprising a stem and a handle surrounding the stem. An elastomeric decoupler system installed in the handle sharply reduces the transmission of shocks and vibrations from the stem to the handle, mitigating stinging and other unpleasant sensations experienced by the batter when a ball is struck. Unpleasant sensations can be further reduced by installing a DTMS damping device in the knob of the bat and by installing an elastomeric grip on the handle of the bat; and the unpleasant sound made when a bat strikes the ground or the like can be materially reduced by a device attached to the stem of the bat intermediate the ends of the handle. The present inventions are particularly adaptable to hollow, metal bats; and provision is made for venting the knob of the bat when it is welded in place so hot gases will not be forced into, and reduce the integrity of, the weld. Appropriate ones of the devices described above may also advantageously be employed in wood, composite, and other bats.

Abstract: A bat made of metal material includes an opening defined in a distal end of the barrel and an inner threaded portion is defined in the opening so as to receive a cap which is threadedly connected to the inner threaded portion and includes a weight such that the users can replace different caps to adjust the weight center of the bat as needed. The cap can be easily replaced by using a securing tool which includes insertion portions to be engaged with axial recesses in the cap.

Abstract: A bat used for baseball or softball includes a bat body including a grip part, a taper part and a first tube, a fixing component including a first fixing component and a second fixing component and a cylindrical second tube having two opened ends, the inner diameter of the cylindrical second tube being larger than the diameter of the first tube, the second tube being placed on the outer circumference of the first tube and being latched so that a gap is formed between the bat body and the second tube via the first fixing component and the second fixing component.

Abstract: A bat for baseball or softball of the present invention includes a first tube having an impact part, a step part and a stopper part, a cylindrical second tube, a fixing component being inserted between the first tube and second tube, the step part having an exterior diameter larger than that of the impact part and smaller than an interior diameter of the second tube, the stopper part having an exterior diameter larger than that of the step part and large than the interior diameter of the second tube, the second tube is held of an exterior periphery of the impact part, one end of the second tube is fixed between the stopper part and the step part by an adhesive and the other end is fixed by an adhesive on the fixing component, and a crevice is formed between the first tube and the second tube.

Abstract: A bat for baseball or softball of the present invention includes a first tube formed from FRP or synthetic resin having a part to be hit and a stopper part, a cylindrical second tube having two ends which are open and including at least two or more layers, a first fixing component including a body part, an interior periphery surface of the body part is fixed to the first tube, a second fixing component including an insertion part, and a gap located between the first tube and the second tube and being formed by the second tube being attached to an exterior periphery of the first tube, one end of the second tube being fixed to an exterior periphery surface of the body part, and the other end of the second tube being fixed to the insertion part which is inserted between the first tube and the second tube.

Abstract: A bat for baseball or softball of the present invention includes a first tube having an impact part, a step part and a stopper part, a cylindrical second tube, a fixing component being inserted between the first tube and second tube, the step part having an exterior diameter larger than that of the impact part and smaller than an interior diameter of the second tube, the stopper part having an exterior diameter larger than that of the step part and larger than the interior diameter of the second tube, the second tube is arranged on an exterior periphery of the impact part, one end of the second tube is fixed between the stopper part and the step part by an adhesive and the other end is fixed by an adhesive on the fixing component, and a crevice is formed between the first tube and the second tube.

Abstract: A bat having a handle portion, a transition portion attached to the handle portion, and a barrel portion attached to the transition portion. The area(s) adjacent to the central portion of the barrel have an increased performance with respect to the central portion of the barrel to effectively enlarge the sweet spot, or preferred hitting area. At least one tubular member of the barrel is circumferential aligned and axially spaced from another tubular member.

Abstract: A ball bat includes a barrel having one or more integral features for selectively stiffening regions of the barrel. The barrel may include an indented region forming a rib projecting inwardly into the barrel. Alternatively, one or more inwardly projecting lips may be formed on adjoining barrel sections that are bonded, welded, or otherwise attached to each other, such that an integral, internal rib is formed in the barrel. The internal rib stiffens the barrel, thus reducing the barrel's BBCOR. One or more integral ribs may be provided at any desired barrel locations for selectively limiting the barrel's performance without appreciably increasing the moment of inertia of the ball bat. In another embodiment, a joint, to which two barrel sections are bonded, welded, or otherwise attached, includes an inwardly projecting member that stiffens the barrel, thus reducing the barrel's BBCOR.

Abstract: A baseball bat includes a hollow grip member having opposite front and rear ends, and an inner peripheral surface that defines a tapered chamber having a diameter reducing gradually toward the rear end. The inner peripheral surface has a first positioning portion disposed between the front end and the rear end. A striking member has an engaging segment received in the tapered chamber, and a large diameter segment extending forwardly from the engaging segment. The engaging segment has an axial hole, a plurality of open-ended slits extending along an axial direction and in spatial communication with the axial hole, and a second positioning portion aligned with the first positioning portion. A pressing member is inserted into the axial hole to press the second positioning portion against the first positioning portion.

Abstract: A bat for baseball or softball of the present invention includes a first tube having an impact part, a step part and a stopper part, a cylindrical second tube, a fixing component being inserted between the first tube and second tube, the step part having an exterior diameter larger than that of the impact part and smaller than an interior diameter of the second tube, the stopper part having an exterior diameter larger than that of the step part and large than the interior diameter of the second tube, the second tube is held of an exterior periphery of the impact part, one end of the second tube is fixed between the stopper part and the step part by an adhesive and the other end is fixed by an adhesive on the fixing component, and a crevice is formed between the first tube and the second tube.

Abstract: Baseball bats described herein may have handle, throat and/or barrel portions that include non-circular cross-sections.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a ball bat with improved shock and vibration dampening. More particularly, the present invention relates to a ball bat with a handle, a barrel, and a socket assembly interposed between the handle and barrel. The socket assembly allows the barrel and handle to move relative to each other, which dampens shock and vibration.

Abstract: A ball bat includes a transparent or translucent cap attached to a bat barrel. One or more security labels are bonded or otherwise attached to the cap and the barrel such that removal of the cap damages or destroys the one or more security labels, providing an indication that the cap has been removed and that tampering with the interior of the bat may have occurred.

Abstract: A ball bat includes a barrel having a radially inner surface. Graphics, or an indicator layer including graphics, that provide a visual indication of whether tampering, such as shaving, has occurred to the radially inner surface of the barrel are affixed to, applied to, or integral with the radially inner surface of the barrel. A transparent or translucent cap, or a cap including a window, is optionally attached to an end of the barrel to provide visual inspection of the internal graphics. The cap itself may additionally or alternatively include internal observable features, or external engraved or etched features, that make the cap difficult to replicate or counterfeit.

Abstract: A structure for a bat is described by using multiple composite tubes bonded to one another, wherein apertures, or “ports,” are molded between the tubes to improve the stiffness, strength, aerodynamics and comfort of the bat.

Abstract: A bat for baseball or softball of the present invention includes a first tube having an impact part, a step part and a stopper part, a cylindrical second tube, a fixing component being inserted between the first tube and second tube, the step part having an exterior diameter larger than that of the impact part and smaller than an interior diameter of the second tube, the stopper part having an exterior diameter larger than that of the step part and large than the interior diameter of the second tube, the second tube is held of an exterior periphery of the impact part, one end of the second tube is fixed between the stopper part and the step part by an adhesive and the other end is fixed by an adhesive on the fixing component, and a crevice is formed between the first tube and the second tube.

Abstract: A bat for limiting the maximum barrel response at high impact speeds while minimizing the dampening performance at low impact speeds includes a plurality of separate longitudinal beams extending from the end of the bat to the tapered portion of the bat. These beams, as well as the tapered portion and a handle, are constructed from a composite material, such as fiber reinforced plastic. An external sleeve is then provided around the barrel portion of the bat. The external sleeve is secured around the barrel of the bat using a snap-fit end cap.

Abstract: Fine-gained (average grain size 1 mm to 1,000 nm) metallic coatings optionally containing solid particulates dispersed therein are disclosed. The fine-grained metallic materials are significantly harder and stronger than conventional coatings of the same chemical composition due to Hall-Fetch strengthening and have low linear coefficients of thermal expansion (CTEs). The invention provides means for matching the CTE of the fine-grained metallic coating to the one of the substrate by adjusting the composition of the alloy and/or by varying the chemistry and volume fraction of particulates embedded in the coating. The fine-grained metallic coatings are particularly suited for strong and lightweight articles, precision molds, sporting goods, automotive parts and components exposed to thermal cycling. The low CTEs and the ability to match the CTEs of the fine-grained metallic coatings with the CTEs of the substrate minimize dimensional changes during thermal cycling and prevent premature failure.

Abstract: A sports bat, such as a baseball or softball bat, is electro-deposited with a nanostructured metal. Bats made from aluminum alloys or other metals may be electro-deposited with varying thicknesses of nanostructured metals such as nickel, nickel iron, cobalt phosphorous, or similar materials. The bat substrate alloy can be any metal or alloy. The coating may be done using an electro-deposition process.

Abstract: Articles for automotive, manufacturing and industrial applications including shafts or tubes used, for example, as golf club shafts, ski and hiking poles, fishing rods or bicycle frames, skate blades and snowboards are at least partially electroplated with fine-grained layers of selected metallic materials. Parts with complex geometry can be coated as well. Alternatively, articles such as conical or cylindrical golf club shafts, hiking pole shafts or fishing pole sections, plates or foils and the like can also be electroformed of fine-grained metallic materials on a suitable mandrel or temporary substrate to produce strong, ductile, lightweight components exhibiting a high coefficient of restitution and a high stiffness for use in numerous applications including sporting goods.

Abstract: A composite baseball bat includes a handle, which has a tapered portion formed on one end of the handle body thereof and gradually increased in diameter in direction away from the handle body, a spacer member formed of a soft material having a uniformly distributed predetermined thickness and covered on the periphery of the tapered portion of the handle, and a barrel, which is sleeved onto the handle, having a first opening ad a second opening respectively located on two distal ends thereof for the passing of the handle body of the handle and a tapered portion located on one end around the first opening and pressed on the spacer member against the tapered portion of the handle.

Abstract: A bat having a handle portion, a transition portion attached to the handle portion, and a barrel portion attached to the transition portion. The area(s) adjacent to the central portion of the barrel have an increased performance with respect to the central portion of the barrel to effectively enlarge the sweet spot, or preferred hitting area. At least one tubular member of the barrel is circumferential aligned and axially spaced from another tubular member.

Abstract: A bat for baseball or softball of the present invention includes a first tube formed from FRP or synthetic resin having a part to be hit and a stopper part, a cylindrical second tube having two ends which are open and including at least two or more layers, a first fixing component including a body part, an interior periphery surface of the body part is fixed to the first tube, a second fixing component including an insertion part, and a gap located between the first tube and the second tube and being formed by the second tube being attached to an exterior periphery of the first tube, one end of the second tube being fixed to an exterior periphery surface of the body part, and the other end of the second tube being fixed to the insertion part which is inserted between the first tube and the second tube.

Abstract: An improvement is made effectively in the strength of a baseball or softball bat constructed by joining a ball-hitting member and a grip member formed of a Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic (FRP) material and a metal material, respectively. In the baseball or softball bat constructed by joining a metal ball-hitting member and an FRP grip member, a joining end region of the grip member has an adhering piece bonded to one of an inner peripheral surface and an outer peripheral surface of a joined end region of the ball-hitting member, and a contact piece for contacting the other of the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface of the joined end region of the ball-hitting member when the adhering piece is in a bonded state.

Abstract: A ball bat includes a barrel having a radially inner surface. Graphics, or an indicator layer including graphics, that provide a visual indication of whether tampering, such as shaving, has occurred to the radially inner surface of the barrel are affixed to, applied to, or integral with the radially inner surface of the barrel. A transparent or translucent cap, or a cap including a window, is optionally attached to an end of the barrel to provide visual inspection of the internal graphics. The cap itself may additionally or alternatively include internal observable features, or external engraved or etched features, that make the cap difficult to replicate or counterfeit.

Abstract: A bat for limiting the maximum barrel response at high impact speeds while minimizing the dampening performance at low impact speeds includes a plurality of separate longitudinal beams extending from the end of the bat to the tapered portion of the bat. These beams, as well as the tapered portion and a handle, are constructed from a composite material, such as fiber reinforced plastic. An external sleeve is then provided around the barrel portion of the bat. The external sleeve is secured around the barrel of the bat using a snap-fit end cap.

Abstract: Articles for automotive, manufacturing and industrial applications including shafts or tubes used, for example, as golf club shafts, ski and hiking poles, fishing rods or bicycle frames, skate blades and snowboards are at least partially electroplated with fine-grained layers of selected metallic materials. Parts with complex geometry can be coated as well. Alternatively, articles such as conical or cylindrical golf club shafts, hiking pole shafts or fishing pole sections, plates or foils and the like can also be electroformed of fine-grained metallic materials on a suitable mandrel or temporary substrate to produce strong, ductile, lightweight components exhibiting a high coefficient of restitution and a high stiffness for use in numerous applications including sporting goods.

Abstract: A bat for baseball or softball of the present invention includes a first tube having an impact part, a step part and a stopper part, a cylindrical second tube, a fixing component being inserted between the first tube and second tube, the step part having an exterior diameter larger than that of the impact part and smaller than an interior diameter of the second tube, the stopper part having an exterior diameter larger than that of the step part and large than the interior diameter of the second tube, the second tube is held of an exterior periphery of the impact part, one end of the second tube is fixed between the stopper part and the step part by an adhesive and the other end is fixed by an adhesive on the fixing component, and a crevice is formed between the first tube and the second tube.

Abstract: A bat for baseball or softball of the present invention includes a first tube having an impact part, a step part and a stopper part, a cylindrical second tube, a fixing component being inserted between the first tube and second tube, the step part having an exterior diameter larger than that of the impact part and smaller than an interior diameter of the second tube, the stopper part having an exterior diameter larger than that of the step part and larger than the interior diameter of the second tube, the second tube is arranged on an exterior periphery of the impact part, one end of the second tube is fixed between the stopper part and the step part by an adhesive and the other end is fixed by an adhesive on the fixing component, and a crevice is formed between the first tube and the second tube.

Abstract: A bat having interchangeable sections comprising a handle section and a hollow striking section. The handle section includes a first end and a second end, while the hollow striking section includes a tapered portion and a barrel portion. The second end of the handle section is removably attached within the tapered portion. Additionally, the barrel portion includes a length having a mid-point wherein the second end of the handle section terminates before the midpoint of the length of the barrel portion.

Abstract: Articles for automotive, manufacturing and industrial applications including shafts or tubes used, for example, as golf club shafts, ski and hiking poles, fishing rods or bicycle frames, skate blades and snowboards are at least partially electroplated with fine-grained layers of selected metallic materials. Parts with complex geometry can be coated as well. Alternatively, articles such as conical or cylindrical golf club shafts, hiking pole shafts or fishing pole sections, plates or foils and the like can also be electroformed of fine-grained metallic materials on a suitable mandrel or temporary substrate to produce strong, ductile, lightweight components exhibiting a high coefficient of restitution and a high stiffness for use in numerous applications including sporting goods.

Abstract: A baseball or softball bat having improved restitution characteristic and preventing degraded hitting feeling caused by vibration or impact at the time of hitting can be provided. The baseball or softball bat including a ball hitting portion, a tapered portion and a grip portion is provided with an outer circumferential member, an inner circumferential member and a non-adhesive portion. The outer circumferential member is a cylindrical member forming at least the ball hitting portion. The inner circumferential member is arranged on the inner circumferential side of the outer circumferential member. The inner circumferential member has a tip end of the inner circumferential member positioned opposite to a taper side end as an end portion on the side of the tapered portion, fixed to the outer circumferential member.

Abstract: A bat preferably is formed of a single, hollow tube of composite material, wherein tubular “ports” extend through the hollow tube. The ends of the ports are bonded to the walls of the hollow tube. The ports improve the stiffness, strength, aerodynamics and comfort of the bat.

Abstract: A multi-piece ball bat includes a first section including a hitting portion, and a second section including a handle portion. A flexible joint connects the first section to the second section. The flexible joint may be a structural joint, such as a spring member, a mechanical locking joint, or a pneumatic or hydraulic joint, or it may be a non-uniform and/or non-continuous elastomeric joint.

Abstract: A bat comprising a handle portion, a transition portion attached to the handle portion, and a barrel portion attached to the transition portion. The barrel portion includes one or more first cross-sections having a first stiffness and a plurality of second cross-sections having a second stiffness. Each first cross-section is beside one second cross-section or between two of the second cross-sections and the first stiffness is greater than the second stiffness. The variance in stiffness between the first cross-sections and the second cross-sections is created by varying the amount of material in the cross-section or by, more accurately, removing material in the second cross sections to make the second cross-sections more flexible by creating holes.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a bat comprising a handle portion, a transition portion attached to the handle portion, and a barrel portion attached to the transition portion. The barrel portion includes one or more first cross-sections having a first stiffness and a plurality of second cross-sections having a second stiffness. Each first cross-section is beside one second cross-section or between two of the second cross-sections and the first stiffness is greater than the second stiffness. The variance in stiffness between the first cross-sections and the second cross-sections is created by varying the amount of material in the cross-section or by, more accurately, removing material in the second cross sections to make the second cross-sections more flexible by creating slots.

Abstract: A single-wall ball bat is made up of a series of layers or plies of unidirectional, two-dimensional, structural fibers. The plies are optionally layered upon each other in a lamina structure in which the fibers in one ply are oriented at opposing angles to the fibers in one or more neighboring plies. Low tensile modulus, two-dimensional E-glass fibers, oriented to provide desired durability, may be used to construct a substantial portion of the barrel or other regions of the ball bat.

Abstract: A process for enhancing a gripping area of an object, providing a frictionally enhanced, moisture repellent, sure-grip gripping surface, achieved by less than one second ultraviolet radiation curing of an ultraviolet-curable coating applied over polymeric fibers enveloping the gripping surface of the object. This inexpensive three step process uses commonly available, low-cost materials, minimal energy, is environmentally friendly, does not require repeated steps, thermosetting, vulcanization, caustic chemicals, molds, molding techniques, and gluing a molded cover onto a surface. Also, metallicized objects where metallicizing imparts superior strength to objects reducing or eliminating breakage and/or splintering when impacted, by a ball if object is a bat reducing or eliminating potential lethal hazards often imparted to a ball when hit by aluminum bats.

Abstract: A sports bat, such as a baseball or softball bat, is electro-deposited with a nanostructured metal. Bats made from aluminum alloys or other metals may be electro-deposited with varying thicknesses of nanostructured metals such as nickel, nickel iron, cobalt phosphorous, or similar materials. The bat substrate alloy can be any metal or alloy. The coating may be done using an electro-deposition process.